Self-adjusting feed roll



Nov. 29, 1932.

H. M. BARBER SELF ADJUSTING FEED ROLL Filed Dec. 19, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 29,. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD M. BARBER, or PAWCA'IUCK, commcrrcn'r, Assmnon T0 o B. COTTRELL a SONS COMPANY, OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SELF-ADJUSTING FEED ROLL Application filed December 19, 1931. Serial No. 582,064.

The object of my invention is to provide a self-adjusting feed roll of novel construction, which feed roll is especially adapted for coaction with another roll to feed paper or other fabric, the adjustability of one of the feed rolls permitting the even feeding of the material though it should vary in thickness or have any other inequalities therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide a self-adjusting feed roll comprising a shaft and one or more feed roller units adapted to be adjustably positioned along the shaft according to varied requirements.

My invention consists generally in a-roller unit comprising a fixed collar, a slidable collar and an interposed self-adjusting or floating annular feed roller, the fixed collar carrying tension means acting on the slidable collar I to clamp the feed roller between the collars with an adjusted degree of friction, as required. v I

My invention also includes means for preventing rotative movement of the feed roller with respect to its shaft and collars where such a feature is desired.

Practical embodiments of my invention are represented in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 represents one form of my feed roller unit, one-half being shown in side elevation and one-half in central longitudinal section with the unit in position on its shaft;

Fig. 2 represents the roller unit in end elevation, the shaft being shown in cross section and a portion of the slidable collar being I broken away;

Fig. 3 represents another form of my roller unit, one-half being shown in side elevation and one-half in central longitudinal section with the unit in position on its shaft; and

Fig. 4 represents the unit in end elevation, the shaft being shown in cross section and a portion of the slidable collar being broken away.

The shaft of the self-adjusting feed roll is denoted by 1, on which shaft any desired number of feed roller units may be mounted.

Each feed roller unit comprises a fixed collar 2, a slidablecollar 3, and an interposed self-adjusting or floating annular feed roller 1-. The fixedcollar 2carries an adjustable tension means acting on the slidable collar to clamp the feed roller between the collars with the desired degree of friction.

[The collars 2 and 3-may be interlocked to the shaft 1 against rotative moyement thereon by any desired means, as for instance by providing the shaft with a circumferential series of longitudinal splines 5 andintermediate recesses 6 adapted to engage corresponding longitudinal recesses 7 and teeth 8 along the bores of the fixed and slidable collars 2 and 3.

The. collar 2 may be secured in its desired position along the shaft by means of'a set screw 9. This fixedcollar is shown as pre senting an extended frictional bearing surface to one side of the annular feed roller 4;. Thecollar 3 'which is slidable along the shaft 1 toward and away from the fixed collar .2 also presents anextended frictional bearing surfaceto the opposite side of the annular feed roller 4. v The fixed collar 2 is provided with a plus rality of bolts 10 (three in the presentinstance) which project from its inner face through the annular roller 4 and holes 11 in the slidable collar 3 into recesses 12 where the ends of thesaid bolts are provided with tension adjusting nuts 13 threaded thereon; coil springs latv being interposed between said nuts 13. and the bottoms of thesaid recesses 12 in the slidable collar. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and. 2 the bore. of the self-adjusting annular feed roller 4 is somewhat larger'than the outside diameter of the shaft lto permit the roller to float or'yield. In this form the tension bolts 10 carried by the fixed collar 2 extend through holes 15 in the feed roller, said holes being somewhat larger than'the diameter of'the bolts to also permitthe floating or yielding of the roller under a greater or lesser degree of friction between the collars, the-roller at the same time being prevented by said tension bolts from rotative movement with respect to its shaft and. collars." In this form the face of the self-adjusting feed roller 4 may be cut away as shown at 16 to clear a projecting part of the cylinder with which it coacts. Such projecting part may be a gripper 17 as illustrated in dotted lines on Fig. 2 of the drawing. To properly balance the self-adjusting feed roller 4, I provide a slot 18 in the roller diametrically opposite the cut away portion 16.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the bore of the feed roller is enlarged to a point beyond the bolts 10 sufficiently to permit the roller to float or yield. This enlarged here also permits rotative movement of the roller with respect to its shaft and collars.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a feed roller unit which is extremely simple and which is readily adjustable not only along its shaft but also as to its frictional effect on the feed roller which by the fixed collar, the ends of the bolts, the

- tension springs and their adjusting nuts being all housed within the slidable collar, thereby eliminating projecting parts which would tend to cause damage to any material which might come in contact with the unit.

It will also be seen that in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the bolts of the tension means serve also to prevent the rotative movement of the feed roller without affecting its floating or yielding movement.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiments herein shown and described, but

What I claim is: 1

1. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising a collar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposed self-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the fixed collar and yieldingly engaging the slidable collar to frictionally clamp the feed roller between said collars.

2. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising a collar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an

. interposed self-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the fixed collar and yieldingly engaging the slidable collar to frictionally clamp the roller between said collars, said tension means including bolts projecting from the fixed collar into the slidable collar, tension adjusting nuts threaded on said bolts and coil springs interposed between said nuts and slidable collar.

3. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising a collar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an

and slidable collar, said roller'having enlarged holes for the passage therethrough of the said tension bolts.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 15th day of December, 1931.

' HOWARD M. BARBER- 

